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Johnson Matthey's SAF team
Together we can make sustainable aviation possible…
Together, Johnson Matthey and Virent have developed a bio-based solution for the world's sustainable flying needs. BioForm® Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) is a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) component that advances and accelerates the benefits of SAF by providing a cleaner and more efficient burning fuel while allowing existing planes to fly with a broader range of SAF, up to and including aircraft fully fueled with sustainable alternatives.
WHY DOES BIOFORM® SAK MAKE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE?
Currently, SAF blends like HEFA and FT-SPK contain no aromatics, so must be blended with conventional, petroleum-based jet fuel
Until now, existing aircraft and fueling systems could only use a maximum of 50% SAF. Why? Because, while most SAF is comprised of hydrocarbons known as paraffins, unlike traditional jet fuel, it does not contain aromatics, an element within the fuel required for use with current aircraft and refueling infrastructure.
The ASTM D7566 standard for synthetic fuels specifies that Jet A needs to contain between 8% and 25% aromatics to provide certain fuel properties and ensure proper fuel system operations. Therefore, to create the right balance between paraffins and aromatics, currently, SAF is limited to a maximum of 50% blending with conventional jet fuel depending on its initial aromatics content.
BioForm® SAK has been demonstrated in multiple successful 100% SAF demonstration flights.
HondaJet
October 2025
Virgin Atlantic, Boeing 787
November 2023
Bell Helicopter 505
February 2023
Emirates 777
January 2023
Gulfstream G650
December 2022
United Airlines
December 2021
ABOUT THE BIOFORMING® S2A PROCESS
Flexible feedstocks mean resilience to change and regional variances
The BioForming® S2A process is able to use sugars from multiple sources. Today, it uses flexible feedstocks, such as beet sugar, sugar cane, or corn sugars, to create SAK, with the ability to utilize cellulosic sugars in the long run. Using sustainable paraffins along with SAK, fuel to power current aircraft fleets can be produced from 100% renewable origins.
WHAT DOES SAK MEAN TO THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND THE PLANET?
Fewer emissions, cleaner air, and a practical pathway to sustainable air travel
Quite simply, it means that the industry can meet its decarbonization targets without the need for hugely expensive and highly impractical changes to aircraft engines, fueling systems, and airport infrastructure. However, the Virent/Johnson Matthey SAK has also been engineered and synthesized to provide a cleaner burning fuel with lower particulate matter emissions. It does this by eliminating aromatics called naphthalenes, which are known to be the leading contributor to jet fuel emissions. This reduces particulate matter emissions and makes the air cleaner for us all.
The future can begin today…
We are committed to battling climate change, enhancing life, and working to make aviation sustainable for all our futures. BioForm® SAK can cut greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by up to 70%, and the BioForming® S2A product can integrate with existing refining and petrochemical infrastructure. It can produce renewable gasoline, SAK, as well as bio-based chemicals such as paraxylene (to produce bio-polyester) and bio-benzene (to produce a variety of benzene derivative products).
